overdrive

noun

over·drive ˈō-vər-ˌdrīv

: an automotive transmission gear that transmits to the drive shaft a speed greater than engine speed

: a state of heightened activity

going into rhetorical overdrive

Example Sentences

He put the car into overdrive. His acting career is in overdrive. The reporters went into overdrive to finish their stories on time.

Recent Examples on the Web Still, as July 4 approaches, the effort is stepping into overdrive, as planners hit what some wryly call the annual panic button. —

Jennifer Schuessler, New York Times, 3 July 2023 The Kremlin was in overdrive on Thursday striving to consolidate control and project an image of normalcy as questions swirled about the whereabouts of a top general and Russia’s elite steeled themselves for a sweeping investigation into last weekend’s mercenary rebellion. —

Robyn Dixon, Catherine Belton and Mary Ilyushina, Anchorage Daily News, 30 June 2023 On the contrary, in lieu of thoughtful rules that take into account the unique nature of digital assets, the SEC has gone into enforcement overdrive, targeting the crypto industry with wave after wave of punitive enforcement actions. —

Marisa Coppel, Fortune Crypto, 29 June 2023 The Kremlin was in overdrive on Thursday striving to consolidate control and project an image of normalcy as questions swirled about the whereabouts of a top general, and Russia’s elite steeled themselves for a sweeping investigation into last weekend’s mercenary rebellion. —

Mary Ilyushina, Washington Post, 29 June 2023 My joints had swollen up so painfully because my immune system was in overdrive attacking my body. —

Caroline Wozniacki, Vogue, 29 June 2023 Still, with a powerful paramilitary group just a few hundred miles outside Russia's capital, and apparently quickly advancing, the rumor mill has been in overdrive on social media. —

Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 24 June 2023 Possessed of a whiskey tenor that took very little effort to kick into overdrive, Stapleton didn’t have to push very hard to sell his material. —

Marc Hirsh, BostonGlobe.com, 12 June 2023 What’s happening: China’s swift economic reopening in December after three years of severe pandemic restrictions was hailed as a catalyst that would send global growth into overdrive. —

Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 8 June 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overdrive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.